Brazil's Carnival Parades

Dancer performs during the parade of Beija-Flor de Nilopolis samba school in Rio de Janeiro Carnival, at Marques de Sapucai sambodrome, in Rio de Janeiro.

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Giant figures are paraded by the Xupa Osso Carnival block during the traditional celebration in Obidos, a remote town on the banks of the Amazon River. Carnival celebrations date back to 1894, according to local historians.

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A dancer of Mangueira samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Drum queen Gracyanne Barbosa, from Unidos da Tijuca samba school, dances during carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nearly 100,000 paying spectators turn out for the all-night spectacle at the Sambadrome.

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Dancers of Grande Rio samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Tens of thousands participate in the Beatles-themed street party, “Sargento Pimenta,” Portuguese for “Sergeant Pepper,” in the streets of Aterro do Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The group that organizes the party gives the Beatles repertoire a Brazilian tweak, adapting “All My Loving” to the peppy beat of a traditional Carnival “marchinha,” or march, and infusing “Hard Day’s Night” with a Rio funk sound.

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A dancer of Salgueiro samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Revellers from the Grande Rio samba school take part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Revellers of the Unidos do Morro Carnival block parade during the traditional celebration in Obidos, a remote town on the banks of the Amazon River that is named after the ancient town of Obidos in Portugal.

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A reveller from the Salgueiro samba school takes part in a parade on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Revellers from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school participate in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Revellers from the Grande Rio samba school participate in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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A performer from the Sao Clemente samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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A dancer of Mangueira samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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A reveller from the Unidos da Tijuca samba school takes part in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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A reveller from the Grande Rio samba school participates in the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Brazilian actress Sophie Charlotte dances with the Salgueiro samba school on the second night of the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Drum queen Patricia Nery of the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school dances during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Brazilians parade on the second day of Carnival celebrations in Salvador, Brazil. Carnival is the grandest holiday in Brazil, annually drawing millions in raucous celebrations culminating on Fat Tuesday before the start of the Catholic season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday. Salvador is the capital of the Northeastern state of Bahia and was the first colonial capital of Brazil.

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Revelers celebrate Carnival by covering themselves with mud from mangrove swamps in Curuca, where the Amazon River pours into the Atlantic.

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Members of the samba school Camisa Verde e Branco perform during the parade Carnaval in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Members of the samba school Vai-Vai dances during de Sao Paulo carnival parade at the at the Anhembi Sambodromo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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A reveler from the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school parades on the first night of the annual Carnival in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome yesterday.

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A dancer from the Aguia de Ouro samba school performs during the parade in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Performers from the Beija Flor samba school perform during carnival celebrations.

Members of the Ilu Oba de Min percussion band wait to perform along downtown streets in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ilu Oba de Min, known for embracing African and Afro-Brazilian culture, is one of the more interesting and culturally-focused carnival street party of Sao Paulo.

Drummers of Gavioes da Fiel samba school disguised as former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva parade during the carnival celebrations in Sao Paulo. The Gavios da Fiel samba school pays homage to Lula, who has undergone chemotherapy for throat cancer.

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Drum queen Sheron Menezzes from the Portela samba school dances during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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A reveler awaits his turn on the first night of the annual carnival parade.

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Members of the carnival group Bola Preta dressed in spiderman suits parade the streets in the center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Performers from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school dance during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Performers from the Unidos da Vila Isabel samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday. Millions watched the sequin-clad samba dancers at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Carnival parade.

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Revelers dance from the Beija Flor samba school at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Millions watched the sequin-clad samba dancers at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Carnival parade.

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Brazilian revelers watch Carnival celebrations yesterday. Tens of thousands filled the parade route in Rio, while millions more watch via television across Brazil.

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Dancers of Vila Isabel samba school on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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A group of women dressed in costumes as brides attend the parade of “Las Carmelitas” at the streets of Santa Teresa neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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A dancer from the Vila Isabel samba school performs during the parade at the Sambadrome.

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Members of the Vila Isabel samba school perform at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Wheel-chair bound revellers from the Portela samba school dance during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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General view as the Galo da Madrugada street carnival band parades with frevo music as background in Recife, northeastern Brazil. The frevo is a rhythm typical of Recife and Galo da Madrugada performs along the city’s streets followed by thousands of dancers.

Members of the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school perform at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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A pregnant dancer performs on a float during the Carnival parade of the Camisa Verde e Branco samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Revelers sing and dance as they march along with the Cordao da Bola Preta carnival parade in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thousands of people gathered to participate in one of Rio’s most popular and traditional blocos or parade groups, which was created in the early 1900’s and believed to be named for a beautiful woman wearing a black and white polka-dress.

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People play in the mud, including a pet dog, during the “Bloco da Lama,” or “Mud Block” carnival parade in Parati, Brazil.

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Drum queen Sabrina Sato of the Vila Isabel samba school dances during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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A dancer performs during the carnival parade by Dragoes da Real samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Performers from the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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A member of the samba school Grupo Especial Mancha Verde takes part in the parade held on the occasion of Sao Paulo Carnival at the Anhembi Sambodromo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Brazilian pop artist Romero Britto performs with the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Members of Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school perform in the Carnival parade of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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A dancer of Porto da Pedra samba school performs during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Drum queen Luiza Brunet of the Imperatriz samba school dances on the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Revellers from the Vila Isabel samba school uses Brazilian martial arts “Capoeira” movements during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Drum queen Ellen Rocche of the Porto da Pedra samba school dances during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Revellers from the Renascer de Jacarepagua samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Revellers from the Portela samba school perform during the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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Revellers from the Beija-Flor samba school dance in the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.

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A reveller from the Vila Isabel samba school parades during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome.